Thursday, October 18, 2012

10:51 PM

WAUSAU -- GOP U.S. Senate candidate Tommy Thompson expressed outrage Thursday that
his Dem rival Tammy Baldwin has accepted thousands in donations from an
organization that opposes sanctions on Iran.

But Baldwin fired back that Thompson had invested in a company that helped Iran mine uranium. "I find that shocking," she said,

It was one of the most hostile exchanges in the second of their three
debates as the two often talked over each other. At one point, Thompson
cut off Baldwin saying, “You want to interrupt me, Joe Biden. Just give
me a chance.” The reference to the vice president drew groans from the
crowd at UW-Marathon.

The statewide televised debate could prove pivotal in a tight race for
the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Herb Kohl after 24 years.
It's one of a handful of races that will determine control of the U.S.
Senate. The third and final debate is at Marquette Law School on Oct.
26, an event co-sponsored by WisPolitics.com.

Thompson criticized Baldwin for accepting nearly $60,000 from a group
that opposes sanctions against Iran, calling it outrageous. He also
knocked her for failing to be tough enough on Iran, which is run by a
leader with "some mental problem," he said.

Baldwin insisted several times she didn't know what Thompson was talking
about after he said she took the money from Council for a Living Earth.
Records show the donations came from the Council for a Livable World.
She also took issue with Thompson calling the group a company, saying
she has never accepted contributions from a corporation.

"I cannot believe anybody would take money from an organization that supports that madman in Iran," Thompson said.

Baldwin pivoted quickly to knock Thompson for owning stock in mining
company Rio Tinto, which partners with Iran in mining uranium, according
to a report today in the Huffington Post. The website reported Iran
owns 15 percent of a uranium mining operation in Namibia with Rio Tinto.

Thompson said the stock was purchased by his broker. He said he only
found out about it Thursday and sold it immediately. The answer prompted
some laughs in the audience of about 350 people.

“I do not agree with anybody doing business with Iran,” Thompson said.
See full coverage of the debate here.-- By Bob Imrie